Our Responsibility to the World

I. Introduction
   A. Prevalence of denominations assisting those of the world
      1. discussions of benevolence to non-saints, hospitals, etc.
      2. Are these actions of the church?
   B. Philosophy of some denominations
      1. Article in Isthmus, Madison magazine
      2. Contrast between two groups
         a. "Evangelicals, pre-millennialists:" those who focus on conversion for 
            the afterlife
         b. "mainline Christian churches, post-millennialists:" those who "desire 
            to make the world we're now in a better place."
      3. Quotation of one such person: "We're all working together to 
         progressively build up the kingdom of God in our lifetimes.  God has 
         given us the intelligence and conscience we need to create the kingdom 
         amongst ourselves.  We're partners with God."  (2a-b, 3 from the 
         Isthmus, "God's Will Be Done,"  December 20, 2002, pp. 15-16)
      4. Is this article full of information just pulled out of a hat?  By no 
         means!
         a. many advertisements for these denominations and their benevolent 
            institutions
         b. hospitals, other forms of aid prevalent
   C. The Christian, the Church, and the World
      1. Are these denominations right in believing that our responsibility is to 
         "make the world a better place?"  
      2. What is the responsibility of both the individual and the church to the 
         world?  
      3. Let us examine the Scriptures to see.

II. The Christian and the World
   A. Primary focus: Matthew 28:18-20 vs. Romans 12:1-2
      1. Matthew 28: we must be in the world to evangelize it
      2. Romans 12: we must not conform to the world
      3. Therefore, we must live within the world, but must not be conformed to 
         it
   B. Commands for Christians
      1. Galatians 6:10
         a. we are to endeavor to do good to all men
         b. "especially the household of faith," yet none are excluded
      2. Matthew 25:31-46
         a. discussion of the Judgment based on benevolence
         b. did you help those in need?
         c. Notice on individual basis, not collective
      3. James 1:27
         a. half of pure religion is to help those in need
         b. widows and orphans
   C. Examples for Christians
      1. Jesus
         a. Throughout Gospels, Jesus helps and comforts the poor
         b. He heals, feeds, and aids multitudes
      2. The Apostles
         a. Acts 3: Peter and John aid one who never walked
         b. Paul also performed many acts of healing 
         c. Galatians 2:10: emphasis of Paul, Peter, John, and James on assisting 
            the poor
   D. Why this benevolence? 
      1. Just for the betterment of our fellow men?
         a. assistance is a demonstration of the love we ought to have-- Matthew 
            22:37-40
         b. should be done without expectation of benefit or reward
      2. Yet in the Scriptures, benevolence is not the primary goal...evangelism 
         is!
         a. Jesus: Luke 19:10: His goal was to seek and save the lost
         b. Apostles: Acts 3: the lame man healed used as example of the power of 
            God, resulting in many saved souls
      3. To feed your fellow man is good; to save his soul also is much better!  
      4. Our primary motivation in benevolence is to let Christ's light shine  
         through us, hopefully convicting the sinner of the error of his way
   E. Conclusion
      1. Christians are commanded by the Scriptures to evangelize the world and 
         yet to not conform to the world
      2. Christians are commanded by the Scriptures to help those who need help
      3. Yet the goal of the Christian is to help save those souls which are lost 
         in all things

III. The Church and the World
   A. The Church represents the Kingdom of God on Earth
      1. Acts 2:16-21: the prophecy of Joel concerning the establishment of the 
         Kingdom fulfilled on the day of Pentecost
      2. Revelation 1:6: we are a kingdom for God
      3. These and many other Scriptures lead to the conclusion that the Kingdom 
         has already been established, and the church is the visible organ of  
         that Kingdom on Earth
   B. The Kingdom and the World
      1. John 18:36
         a. Jesus declares to Pilate that His Kingdom is not of this Earth
         b. If the Kingdom is not of the Earth, then it cannot be established 
            here by man
      2. 1 John 2:15-17
         a. comparison of the things of the world vs. the things of God
         b. strong principle manifested: the world and God are in opposition
         c. man cannot reconcile them within himself
   C. The Responsibilities of the Church
      1. With the above recognized, is the church responsible for aiding those of 
         the world?
      2. The church does have responsibility to fund evangelism: Philippians 
         4:14-17
      3. No other method, however, given in the Scriptures
      4. The church is to assist its own
         a. 2 Corinthians 9
         b. 1 Timothy 5
         c. many other Scriptures relating to the church assisting its own
   D. Why Not Benevolence?
      1. The Scriptures demonstrate that the church is not an earthly organ, but 
         a heavenly one
      2. The church's main goal is to edify and encourage itself while funding 
         its members in their attempt to evangelize
      3. The church is introspective--it looks to those within, appealing to 
         those without to join the fold
      4. Simply put, the church does not have the time to devote itself to any 
         other action but its own aggrandizement and strength so that it may be 
         found acceptable to its Head.  
         a. examine strength of the "liberal Protestant" denominations
         b. numbers are dwindling; positions further from the Scriptures
         c. Where is the focus on evangelism?  One another?  
         d. Lost on their "good works" throughout the world
   E. Conclusion
      1. The Scriptures teach that the church is the Kingdom of God visible on 
         Earth
      2. The Scriptures have no commandment for the church to aid those in the 
         world beyond funding evangelism
      3. The church looks inward to strengthen its own while appealing to those 
         from without

IV. Why These Concerns?
   A. What is so wrong, one may ask, with the world that we may not do these 
      "good works?"  
   B. Many so caught up with doing "good works" that no thought is given to them
      1. What is a "good work?"  
      2. Are there works that may be "better" than "good?" 
      3. Is it possible for a "good" work to harm someone?
   C. The Inherent Problems with the world
      1. Man has sinned and continues to sin
         a. Romans 3:23: man has fallen short
         b. Romans 1: men have developed evil natures
      2. Man is focused on carnal things
         a. 1 John 2:15-17: lusts of the eyes and flesh
         b. Feeding of the Five Thousand: John 6
         c. Men will accept your food, but will rarely want to change their 
            lifestyle
      3. The world will be destroyed
         a. 2 Peter 3:10-13
         b. nothing will be left on this planet
         c. all of our "good works" are only a memory of the spirit
         d. no hospital will remain, nor any other edifice built for a "good 
            work"
         e. 2 Peter 3:11 significant
   D. God has commanded us to involve our energies toward the things that are 
      lasting, not those that perish 
      a. 2 Corinthians 4-5
      b. we must focus on those things that are eternal, not fleeting
   E. Therefore, let us involve ourselves with the things that will lead to 
      eternity, not those things that will perish in time

V. Conclusion
   A. Those in the denominations are not correct: it is not our responsibility to 
      save the world
      1. the world is beyond salvation
      2. we must strive to convince individuals concerning the need for Christ
   B. We must do good to all men, certainly, but to what end?
      1. Help them because of the love shown to us
      2. Help them see the love shown to them by Christ
   C. This is not for the church, but for individuals
      1. the church must focus on itself
      2. Not selfish; the Lord has so commanded
   D. We must forsake the things of the world and cling to the things of God
      1. If you cling to the things of the world, you are in grave danger
      2. Accept the Gospel today and be immersed in water for the remission of 
         your sins
      3. Let us help you as we stand and sing